Sixth Form Entry Requirements

September 2019 Sixth Form Entry Requirements

Our post 16 curriculum is designed to give students the highest academic qualifications which will allow them to pursue university degree level study or higher level apprenticeship study. The process of careers information advice and guidance begins early and continues throughout year 11 to help students understand the entry requirements for A level study and to help them make informed choices.

Our minimum entry requirement is for a student to have at least five GCSE passes at C grade or equivalent including English and Maths at grade 4. However, for some subjects, if a student wishes to pursue A Level study then they must achieve at least a B grade or grade 6 in that subject at GCSE.

Subjects where the minimum grade of a B/6 is non-negotiable in allowing entry onto an A Level course are:

Biology – Chemistry – Physics

Maths/Further Maths

Modern Foreign Languages

Computer Science

For students who have studied Science and Additional Science GCSE they must achieve a B Grade in order to gain access to Biology, Chemistry or Physics A level. A C grade in any Science GCSE will only allow access onto Applied Science A level. For all other A Level and Technical subjects a B grade equivalent is more likely to lead to success at A Level. However, in consultation with the subject leader, a decision MAY be made to allow a student with a C grade onto that particular A Level course.

Students enter St. Benedict’s Sixth Form at 16 and pursue a two year course leaving at 18. In rare instances a student with particular circumstances may be admitted to the sixth form at 17 to complete a two year course of study as long as all entry requirements are met. In such cases decisions will be made on an individual basis.

To enrol as a full time student, applicants must enrol for study pathways which incorporate a minimum of 540 guided learning hours each year. Usually this involves studying four A levels in year 12 or 3 A Levels combined with other qualifications which may include resit GCSE Maths or English, Extended Project or Core Maths. In year 13 most students continue with a minimum of three A Levels.

Any student who has an Educational Health Care Plan (EHCP), which names St Benedict’s, will be admitted provided they meet the minimum entry requirements outlined above. Applications are welcomed for students from Year 11 in St Benedict’s, from St Joseph’s, our partner school in Workington, and from all other local schools. The planned admissions number for external candidates is 30.

On GCSE results day, a team of staff from St Benedict’s are available to provide guidance and to formalise entry into the sixth form if the entry requirements have been met.